Device for unloading of package contents

ABSTRACT

The claimed technical solution relates to devices installed on packages in order to unload the package contents. 
     The device for unloading of package contents arranged above the package outlet hole includes a tray with flanges, an outlet valve and a supporting element; at that, when folded, the tray is located under the outlet valve and is retained on the supporting element; and the outlet valve is equipped with flaps allowing to retain the tray flanges and form an opening when the tray is put into an open position. At that, the tray is designed so that it can be opened at an angle exceeding 90°, and the edges of the tray flanges are free from any attachments on three sides thereof. The tray has a pulling element with slots made on the supporting element. When folded, the tray is retained by the tray flanges located in slots made on the supporting element. Moreover, the flaps of the outlet valve retain the tray in a closed position on the supporting element.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The claimed technical solution relates to devices arranged on containerpackages in order to unload the package contents.

BACKGROUND

The prior art discloses numerous packages manufactured from flexiblematerials, such as boxes, bags for storage of free-running granulated orpowder products, including tea, coffee, cereal, etc. Such containerpackages can contain a device for unloading of package contents. Thosewere described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,847,028A, 2,064,029A, 2,593,778A,2,946,496A, 3,426,955A and others.

Accordingly, patent U.S. Pat. No. 2,069,281 published on 2 Feb. 1937,cl. B65D 33/36, discloses a device for unloading package contents; whichis installed on the package, more specifically, above the openinglocated on the top flap of the package. On the middle part of the topflap, weakened lines are made to form the device for unloading packagecontents, and the said device contains a tray with a pulling element andflanges with edge elements providing fixation of the tray on the surfaceof the package top flap when the tray is open.

However, there are disadvantages to this structure of device forunloading of package contents, for instance, in the open position, theedge elements of the tray flanges only allow putting the tray into aposition where the opening angle is less than 90°. This position of thetray considerably limits the user's visibility of the area for unloadingof the package contents into the tray. In conditions of limitedvisibility, the user is forced to resort to additional manipulationswith the package in order to force the contents out. When folding thetray back into the package, the former can fall inside the package asthe tray is retained only by the thin edge part of the package top flapand the thin edge part of the device for unloading, which provide anunreliable means of retaining. Moreover, the device for unloading islocated on the middle part of the package top flap, which leads toappearance of “blind spots” on both sides of the device, considerablyobstructing the unloading of contents from those spots.

The prior art also discloses a device for unloading package contentsdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,064,029 published on 15 Dec. 1936, cl. B65D33/36 (being the closest analogue), containing a tray with flanges and apulling element. The device for unloading package contents is made onthe narrow side wall of the package, as the continuation thereof, andincludes a tray for unloading with side flanges providing retaining ofthe tray in open position, and a pulling element providing a protrudingpart of the unloading tray.

The said device, however, also presents structural disadvantages, suchas the tray width being equal to the package side wall width. Due tothis fact, there is a possibility of unloading into the tray of muchmore of the package contents than the user needs. Consequently, theprocess of unloading can become uncontrollable. Moreover, the device forunloading package contents is retained in a position where the openingangle cannot exceed 90°. This forces the user to make additional effortsin order to force the package contents from the tray into a container,that is, make additional movements requiring perfect coordination. Whenfolding the tray back into the package, the coarse edge of the trayshall frictionally cling to the contiguous coarse edge of the prominentpart of the package, retaining the device in a closed position withoutthe use of additional means of retaining. However, this way of retainingthe device in a closed position is not completely reliable: if thepackage is turned sideways (or over), the package contents can spill asaffected by their own weight.

Concept of the Claimed Solution

The technical problem solved by the claimed device is related withcorrection of disadvantages known from the prior art.

The technical result that can be obtained from implementation of theclaimed technical solution consists in provision of a reliable,iterative retaining of the unloading device, both in folded (closed)position, when the opening for unloading is covered, and in openposition, at any opening angle of the device selected by the user, andconsequently, in increased controllability of the process of packagecontents unloading.

This technical result is achieved by creation of a device for unloadingof package contents arranged above a package outlet hole, including atray with flanges, an outlet valve and a supporting element, at that,when folded, the tray is located under the outlet valve and is retainedon the supporting element, wherein the outlet valve is equipped withflaps designed with the possibility to retain the tray flanges and forman opening when the tray is put into an open position.

At that, the tray is designed with the possibility of opening at anangle exceeding 90°, and the edges of the tray flanges are free from anyattachments on three sides thereof. The tray has a pulling element andslots made on the supporting element. When folded, the tray is retainedby the tray flanges located in slots made on the supporting element.Moreover, the flaps of the outlet valve retain the tray in a closedposition on the supporting element.

In a particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the elementsthereof such as the tray with flanges, the outlet valve, and thesupporting element, can be designed as parts of the package and formedfrom a single blank.

In another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the traywith flanges, the outlet valve, and the supporting element are designedas separate elements with the possibility of installing those on thepackage, above the outlet hole made on the package.

In yet another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, thetray with flanges, outlet valve, and supporting element can represent asingle structure, with the possibility of installing it on the package,above the outlet hole made on the package.

In yet another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, thetray with flanges, outlet valve, and supporting element can be designedas a combination of elements partly installed on the package and partlymanufactured separately, with the possibility of attaching those to thepackage, above the outlet hole made on the package.

The advantage of the claimed solution for the device for unloading ofthe package contents is the possibility to deflect the device tray at anangle exceeding 90° as well as retention of possibility to deflect thedevice tray at an angle less than 90°. This is achieved by the fact thatthe tray flanges are not attached to the package on which the device forunloading is located, but are only attached to the tray by their onlyedge, along the long lateral sides of the tray, so that the user candeflect the tray at a necessary angle. This position of the tray allowsthe user to control the area of visibility of the package outlet hole inorder to unload the package contents freely and without any additionalmanipulations with the package, due to the possibility to install thetray at an angle exceeding angle of friction of the unloaded packagecontents on the tray surface.

At that, the tray position chosen by the user is reliably retained asthe tray flanges are supported from outside by the outlet valve flaps.In addition, such angle of unloading of the package contents ensuresthat the device area is fully visible to the user, consequently, theuser can fully control the process of contents unloading through thepackage outlet hole.

After unloading of the package contents, the package outlet hole can bereliably closed as the tray can be freely returned into its initialposition through the outlet valve, the package outlet hole can becovered with the tray, and the tray flanges can be retained in slotsmade on the supporting element. The tray can also be additionallycovered from above by the outlet valve flaps, as the junction line forthe outlet valve flaps can be made as a curve, so that the protrudingelements of one flap would be placed between the protruding elements ofthe opposite flap, forming a junction similar to a flat «zip fastener»and being held together by the friction of the edging surfaces of theflap's protruding elements, which are placed into each other, providingadditional countermeasure against spontaneous opening of the packageoutlet hole.

Thus, the claimed device for unloading of package contents is differentfrom other devices for unloading of package contents known from theprior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the device for unloading of the package contents located onthe package;

FIG. 2 illustrates the outlet valve in a folded position;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of packagecontents made from a single unfolding;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of thepackage contents from separate elements;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of thepackage contents when the package is not represented by a box;

where the following numbers designate the following structural elementsof the claimed device:

-   -   1. Package.    -   2. Tray.    -   3. Tray flange.    -   4. Pulling element.    -   5. Outlet valve.    -   6. Longitudinal flap.    -   7. Edge flap.    -   8. Tag.    -   9. Supporting element.    -   10. Supporting element slot.    -   11. Outlet valve opening.    -   12. Package outlet hole.    -   13. Tag cutout.    -   14. Package side wall.    -   15. Package top flap.    -   16. Package bottom flap.    -   17. Device for unloading.    -   18. Weakened line of the pulling element.    -   19. Weakened line of the longitudinal flaps.    -   20. Weakened line of the edge flap.    -   21. Supporting element hole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the device used for unloading of contents ofthe package on which it is located, such as powdered or granulatedproducts, for example, tea, coffee, grain, cereal. The package itselfcan take different forms and be made from a flexible material, likecardboard.

The invention is further disclosed in more details, with references tothe accompanying drawings that provide a schematic representation of thedevice structural elements and application embodiments.

More specifically, FIG. 1 provides a schematic representation of thedevice for unloading of the package contents.

The device for unloading of the package 1 contents is located above theoutlet hole 12 of the package 1 and includes the unloading tray 2 onboth lateral sides of which there are flanges 3 limiting the unloadingof package 1 contents outside of the tray 2. The shape of flanges 3 candiffer (they can be rectangular, rounded, or figurate) in order toprovide fulfilment of their function. The flanges 3 are attached withone edge to the tray 2, all other edges of the flange 3 beingunattached. On yet another side of the tray 2, a weakened line 18 ismade by creasing (for instance) (not shown on FIG. 1 ), in order toconnect the tray 2 with the pulling element 4. The pulling element 4 isa lip on the edge of the tray 2, and the weakened line 18 provides thepossibility to bend the pulling element 4 in the plane of the tray 2. Atthat, the weakened line 18 can be made as a curve, thus increasing thestiffness of the pulling element 4 after it was bent.

Another important element of the device for unloading of package 1contents is the outlet valve 5 (see FIG. 2 ) formed by longitudinalflaps 6 and an edge flap 7 with a tag 8.

FIG. 2 illustrates the outlet valve 5 in a closed position. The outletvalve 5 is located above the tray 2 (not shown on FIG. 2 ) and is usedfor unloading of the package 1 contents. In the medium part of theoutlet valve 5 a weakened line 19 is made by creasing. The weakened line19 can be made straight or in zigzag, forming zigzag elements of theflaps that are placed into each other. When tearing the line 19,longitudinal flaps 6 are formed on the outlet valve 5, and theirseparation from each other allows forming an opening 11 of the outletvalve 5. The outlet valve 5 also includes an edge flap 7 attached to theedge sides of the longitudinal flaps 6, that has a tag 8 with a cutout13 of the tag 8. By turning the tag 8 through the cutout 13, the edgeflap 7 is separated from the outlet valve 5 and longitudinal flaps 6 bybending along the weakened line 20, providing access to the pullingelement 4 of the tray 2. This creates a possibility to pull on thepulling element 4 and divide the longitudinal flaps 6 along the weakenedline 19 of the outlet valve 5, forming an opening 11 through which thetray 2 can be put into an open position in order to unload the package 1contents (see FIG. 1 ). When open, the tray 2 is retained by the forcesof friction between flanges 3 of the tray 2 and longitudinal flaps 6 ofthe outlet valve 5 providing a resilient support for the flanges 3 ofthe tray 2. As mentioned earlier, an advantage of this structure is thefact that the tray 2 of the device for unloading of package 1 contentsis reliably retained in an open position because flanges 3 of the tray 2are supported from both sides by the longitudinal flaps 6 of the outletvalve 5, and the tray 2 can remain open and deflected from the package 1at an angle exceeding 90° (>90°) while flanges 3 of the tray 2 are notattached to the package 1, as opposed to the structures known from theprior art. Outside surfaces of flanges 3 of the tray 2 and the surfacesof contiguous longitudinal flaps 6 of the outlet valve 5 can betextured, so that the prominences of the surface of flanges 3 correspondwith the cavities on the surface of longitudinal flaps 6 in order toprovide reliable contact of those surfaces.

For each specific product contained in the package 1, well-visible linesshowing the best angle of deflection proposed for the tray 2 andallowing unloading of the optimal quantity of the package contents, canbe additionally drawn on the surface of longitudinal flaps. For the samepurpose, special prominences and cavities can be made on contiguoussurfaces of flanges 3 of the tray 2 and longitudinal flaps 6 of theoutlet valve 5, providing the user with a tactile indication that theoptimal angle of turning of the tray 2 has been reached for the specificproduct contained in the package 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates another structural element of the claimed device,more specifically, the supporting element 9. The supporting element 9can be both a part of the package 1 or a separate element that can beattached to the package 1 in a known way. The supporting element 9 isdesigned so that the edge part of the tray 2 is supported by the surfaceof the supporting element 9, preventing falling of the tray 2 inside thepackage 1 when the device is folded after being used. The supportingelement 9 also carries slots 10 that are made on its free edge (see FIG.3-4 ); these slots can be straight or rounded. The slots 10 are used toreliably retain flanges 3 of the tray 2 of the device for unloading ofthe package 1 contents by wedging open flanges 3 on slots 10 whenfolding the tray into the package after the former has been used; theyretain the said flanges 3 from spontaneous withdrawal thereof from theslots 10 under the weight of the contents pressing from inside thepackage on the tray 2 during different manipulations with the closedpackage or in case the closed package is turned over.

FIG. 1 also illustrates the outlet hole 12 made on the package 1,through which pass the contents of the package 1 while being unloaded.The package outlet hole 12 coincides with the hole 21 of the supportingelement and the opening 11 of the outlet valve. The hole 21 of thesupporting element 9 serves for the package 1 contents to pass throughit while being unloaded. At that, the length of the hole 21 of thesupporting element 9 must be smaller than the length of the tray 2, andthe width of the hole 21 of the supporting element 9 must be equal tothe width of the tray 2 measured along the outside dimensions of itsflanges 3. The length of the hole 21 of the supporting element 9determines the maximum consumption that can be reached when unloadingthe contents from the package 1. At that, the decrease of the length ofthe hole 21 provides a pro-rata decrease of the maximum consumptionreached when unloading the contents from the package 1; and on thecontrary, the increase of the hole 21 length increases the said maximumconsumption.

The claimed device for unloading of package 1 contents can be used asfollows.

The device for unloading of package 1 contents consisting of a tray 2with flanges 3 and a pulling element 4, an outlet valve 5 withlongitudinal flaps 6 and edge flap 7, and a supporting element 9, isinstalled above the outlet hole 12 located on the package 1. In order tounload a portion of contents from the package 1, the user opens the edgeflap 7 along the weakened line 20, wherein the edge flap 7 has apreliminarily made tag slot 13 at the tag 8. The user picks up the tag 8by the tag slot 13 and uses power to bend the edge flap 7, providingaccess to the pulling element 4 of the tray 2. After bending the pullingelement 4 of the tray 2 and picking up on it, the user uses power tochange the tray 2 position from folded into a position for unloading.When pulling out and turning the tray 2 by the pulling element 4, thelinkers at the weakened line 19 are torn and the longitudinal flaps 6bend, forming an opening 11 of the outlet valve 5. The width of theopening 11 of the outlet valve 5 corresponds to the width of the tray 2.As the flanges 3 of the tray 2 are separated from the sides of thepackage 1, the user can, while unloading the package 1 contents, deflectthe tray 2 at an angle exceeding 90° and reliably hold it in the sameposition due to forces of friction between the flanges 3 of the tray 2and longitudinal flats 6 of the outlet valve 5 that provide a resilientsupport to flanges 3 of the tray 2 and do not require additional meansof retaining. This all allows to reliably put the tray 2 into an openposition and hold it in the same position for the time necessary forunloading. The position of the tray 2 deflected at an angle exceeding90° provides the user with maximum visibility of the area of hole 21 ofthe supporting element 9 located under the tray 2 and allows organizinga fully-controlled unloading of a measured portion of the package 1contents into a container, without any additional manipulations with thepackage, by deflecting the package 1 and unloading its contents into acontainer through the tray 2. Flanges 3 of the tray 2 provide reliableprotection from spilling of unloaded measured portion of the package 1contents.

After unloading a necessary portion of the package 1 contents, the tray2 can be returned into its initial (folded) position inside the package1. To do that, the user holds on to the pulling element 4 and lowers thetray 2 through the opening 11 of the outlet valve 5 until the tray 2rests against the surface of the supporting element 9. The pullingelement 4 of the tray 2 allows the user to not touch the surface of thetray 2 itself, providing observance of the sanitary standards. At that,the user fixes flanges 3 of the tray 2 in slots 10 of the supportingelement 9. The slots 10 are made so that when the tray 2 is foldedinside the package 1, the flanges 3 are inserted into the slots 10 alongthe whole length of the flanges 3, wedge open and reliably hold the tray2 in a folded position; at the same time, the tray 2 also covers thehole 21 of the supporting element 9 and the hole 12 of the package 1,thus preventing spontaneous unloading of the package 1 contents throughthe opening 11 of the outlet valve 5 and through the hole 21 of thesupporting element 9 during different spatial manipulations of thepackage 1. To facilitate insertion of flanges 3 of the tray 2 into slots10 of the supporting element 9, the lead—in parts of slots 10 can carrychamfers or curves.

Thus, the claimed invention described by the total of listed featuresallows to reliably and iteratively open the outlet hole for unloading ofthe package contents and to close it after unloading a part of thecontents, while also increasing controllability and facilitating theprocess of unloading.

The following examples of device implementation provide non-limitingillustrations of implementation of the claimed invention.

Example 1

Device for unloading of package contents can be made on the containerpackage manufactured from cardboard, in the form of a box with an outlethole, representing a single blank when unfolded (FIG. 3 ). This package1 has side walls 14, top flaps 15 and bottom flaps 16. Elements of thedevice 17 for unloading of package 1 contents are made together with theblank, out of its essential parts.

Thus, the tray 2 with flanges 3 and a pulling element 4 are made on oneof the top flaps 15 of the package 1.

Longitudinal flaps 6 and edge flap 7 with the tag 8 of the outlet valve5 are also made on the adjacent top flap 15 of the package 1, so thatthe longitudinal flaps 6, when folded, are connected by the weakenedline 19 that can be made as a straight or curved line in order toprovide reliable retention of the longitudinal flaps 6 with each other,while folded, and to increase the effect of their adherence to eachother. The separation of flaps 6 and 7 allows forming an opening 11 ofthe outlet valve 5.

The supporting element 9 is made from yet another top flap 15 of thepackage 1 carrying the hole 21 for unloading of package 1 contents andslots 10 for retaining flanges 3 of the tray 2 when the tray 2 isfolded.

After connecting lateral sides 14, top flaps 15 and bottom flaps 16 ofthe blank, the user obtains a package in the form of a box (see FIG. 1-2), where the elements, such as the tray with flanges, the outlet valveand the supporting element of the device 17 for unloading of packagecontents are located above each other and above the outlet hole 12 ofthe package 1. The unloading of contents of this box can be done byusing the device 17 to unload the package contents in a way describedearlier.

Example 2

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the device for unloading ofpackage contents, where the tray 2 with flanges 3 and the pullingelement 4, the outlet valve 5 formed by longitudinal flaps 6 and theedge flap 7 with tag 8, the supporting element 9 with slots 10 and thehole 21 represent separate structural elements of the said device forunloading that are consequently installed above each other and above theoutlet hole 12 made on the package 1. Connection of the said elements ofthe device for unloading of package contents is done in a known way, andthe unloading of package contents can be done by using the said devicefor unloading in a way described earlier.

Example 3

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the device for unloading ofpackage contents, where the tray 2 with flanges 3 and the pullingelement 4, the outlet valve 5 formed by longitudinal flaps 6 and theedge flap 7 with tag 8, the supporting element 9 with slots 10 and thehole 21 represent a preliminarily assembled device installed above theoutlet hole 12 made on the package 1. The unloading of the packagecontents can be done by using the said device for unloading in a waydescribed earlier.

Example 4

Yet another embodiment of the said device for unloading of packagecontents (not shown on figures) suggests that the tray 2 with flanges 3and the pulling element 4, the outlet valve 5 formed by longitudinalflaps 6 and the edge flap 7 with tag 8, the supporting element 9 withslots 10 and the hole 21 can be designed as a combination of elementspartly installed on the package 1 and partly separated from it, with thepossibility to connect them to the package 1 above the outlet hole 12made on the package 1. The unloading of the package contents can be doneby using the said device for unloading in a way described earlier.

1. A device for unloading of package contents arranged above a packageoutlet hole, including a tray with flanges, characterized in that italso includes an outlet valve and a supporting element, wherein whenfolded, the tray is located under the outlet valve and is retained onthe supporting element, where the outlet valve has flaps designed withthe possibility to retain the tray flanges and to form an opening whenthe tray is brought into an open position.
 2. The device according toclaim 1, characterized in that the tray is designed so that it ispossible to deflect it, when open, at an angle exceeding 90°.
 3. Thedevice according to claim 1, characterized in that the edges of the trayflanges are not attached to anything on three sides thereof.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray is designedwith a pulling element.
 5. The device according to claim 1,characterized in that the supporting element has slots.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 5, characterized in that when folded, the tray isretained by the tray flanges located in slots made on the supportingelement.
 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that whenfolded, the tray is retained on the supporting element by the flaps ofthe outlet valve.
 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized inthat the elements thereof, such as the tray with flanges, the outletvalve and the supporting element, can be designed together with thepackage and formed from a single blank.
 9. The device according to claim1, characterized in that the tray with flanges, the outlet valve and thesupporting element are made as separate elements, with the possibilityof installing the said elements on the package, above the outlet holemade on the package.
 10. The device according to claim 1, characterizedin that the tray with flanges, the outlet valve and the supportingelement can represent a single structure, with the possibility ofinstalling them on the package, above the outlet hole made on thepackage.
 11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that thetray with flanges, the outlet valve and the supporting element can bemade as a combination of elements partly installed on the package andpartly separated from it, with the possibility of attaching them to thepackage, above the outlet hole made on the package.